One-Size-Fits-All, But Looks Good on No One

May 11, 2012
Fitness Tip, Training Strategies
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Most of the fitness programs on the market today take a one-size-fits-all approach.  The overweight office worker just starting out should follow the same exact routine as the advanced athlete?  Yup.

There are two major problems with this approach, and it’s the reason why most programs on the market fail to produce real results:

  1. The program is not appropriately matched to a person’s specific GOAL.
  2. The program is not appropriately matched to a person’s specific LEVEL.

FITNESS ROUTINES SHOULD COME IN DIFFERENT SHAPES AND SIZES. BECAUSE PEOPLE DO.

The market for “fitness that works for anyone” is large, and many DVD makers and group exercise instructors have pushed this approach for years. The problem is, this market is non-existent, despite what the infomercial makers have trained us to believe.

Many uninformed trainers make the same mistake:

  1. The boot camper who has you do every gut-busting drill he can think of just because he’s so darn tough.
  2. The meathead or fitness diva who has you train 4 hours a day and “squat til you puke”.
  3. The functional guy who has you do every complex exercise on a balance ball, even though you have no need to function like a circus performer.

Are you working out to impress people or get results?  ”Getting your butt kicked” is much different than a properly targeted and progressive plan—one that actually helps you gradually develop your gluteal muscles, for example, if that’s what you’re going for.

FINDING THE RIGHT LEVEL EQUALS REAL RESULTS.

That’s where GAIN is different.  Not only does it match your training program to your goals, time parameters and available equipment, but it also matches your program to your training level.

We have 5 different user levels, and we’re building progressions into each one, which means we have the right programs for you—from complete beginner to advanced athlete, and everyone in between. And we’re constantly tuning and tweaking our levels and workout recommendations, based on real workout data.

Don’t misunderstand us, your workouts should be challenging, but within the confines of the appropriate level.  And we’ll work with you to progress you as you “level-up,” introducing new, more advanced exercises, adding reps and volume and intensity, but only when you’re ready. You’ll “learn as you do,” and eventually you end up a fitness expert yourself.

Regaining Your Fitness Momentum

April 18, 2012
Fitness Tip, Training Strategies
1 Comment

Today we welcome DeAnn Teixeira as a first time guest blogger. DeAnn is a certified trainer (NSCA) and Wellness Coach (WellCoaches) who does training and nutrition coaching in Menlo Park, California.

DeAnn Teixeira

Let’s face it, after a while our fitness routine feels a little…routine. That push we count on from our inner athlete seems to feel more like a nudge. We start to worry that we’ll slip and turn into a couch potato. It doesn’t take an Olympian to know that our minds and bodies are good at adapting to a routine, then quickly get bored. Whether we are exceptional athletes or weekend warriors, we need to beat the boredom–to shake it up and regain our fitness momentum.

Here are a few tips to propel you over that ho-hum hump:

1. A Little Goes A Long Way
By increasing your workouts by 10% each week, you’ll challenge your body and mind to stay focused. I.e. If you do 40lb dumbbell chest presses at 12 rep max sets, try 45lb dumbbells at 8-12 rep max sets the following week.

2. Stop The “All Or Nothing” Attitude
If one day of running and two days of weight training is all you can commit to, so be it. Good things can come in small packages. Plus, down the road, you may find time to add more.

3. Have Fun!
Health and fitness are a lifetime commitment, so find workouts that you look forward to. Check out dance lessons, recruit a fitness partner, or sign up for an adventure race.

4. Set Goals, Not Limits
Each workout should have a purpose. You could plan to run 10% further for every 30 minutes you hit the pavement. Or, maybe you want to burn an additional hundred calories at your next exercise class.

The sky is the limit when it comes to spicing up our fitness regimens. We all need something new to keep our body and mind interested, and to avoid that comfy spot on the couch. Figure out what’s going to get you going. Then look your “inner athlete” in the eye and say its time to get back to it…no push required.

Myth Busters: I’m a Hardgainer

April 4, 2012
Fitness Tip
2 Comments

If you’re having trouble gaining muscle through strength training, it’s because IT’S HARD TO GAIN MUSCLE THROUGH STRENGTH TRAINING. It takes time, people. You’re attempting to transform your body. Give it a second! (Or really, a few weeks at the very least.)

The problem is: Going to the gym and doing a bunch of random exercises (re: following the latest training fad) is NOT going to cut it. True body change requires serious effort, consistency and, most importantly, proper programming.

But alas, there’s good news. Despite this hard reality, you are not doomed to spend the rest of your life in Puneyville! With proper targeted training, you will see results.

“HARDGAINER” STATUS IS A MYTH!

Most often, when someone says “I just can’t build muscle; no matter what I do”, it comes down to the fact that their training program (diet & exercise) is not aligned with their goals. For example, if your goal is to build visual muscle mass (aka “hypertrophy,” in trainer geek-speak), you need to train specifically for that.
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Introducing: The Advanced Crotch Pack

March 31, 2012
Fitness Tip, Mobile App, Nutrition, Product Feature, Training Strategies
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With the release of GAIN 3.0, we’ve introduced several advanced “Expansion Packs” — goal-oriented training approaches and exercises that turn out quick results. As our pack selection continues to grow, we’d like to introduce the newest addition: The Advanced Crotch Pack.

Many personal trainers ignore the popular “crotch area”. But the truth is, the v-shaped gap between your legs is chock full of major muscles that need regular strength training. Our brand new pack targets your love quarters straight on with a series of high-intensity pulling and pushing motions. The inner-thighs and pelvic region are the fulcrum points of both love-making and general attention. Get this pack if you’re ready to turn the region below your belt into a steel showcase of muscularity.

Next up in the GAIN Fitness lab: The Happy April Fool’s Day Pack!

App.net’s SXSW Showcase

March 28, 2012
Mobile App, Product Feature
1 Comment

What a crazy two-week span. We sweat away our hangovers at SXSW in Austin, took care of business at IHRSA in LA, and finally launched GAIN Fitness 3.0.

If you missed CEO Nick Gammell’s presentation in Austin, it’s worth a look:

It was part of App.net’s Showcase of the latest and greatest apps out there. Here are a few highlights from the prezzo:

  • GAIN 3.0 is the most personalized fitness App out there — create a workout based on your body, goals & lifestyle
  • Get over 300 free exercises in the Training Foundation free pack
  • Advanced training packs allow you to add hyper-target training methods and specialized equipment
  • Real trainers and certified professionals develop our content and programming
  • Become accountable by setting your workout schedule when building a GAIN Plan
  • Stay on track and eliminate excuses with the “Quick Plan B” feature

Side note: If anyone can do the Handstand Push-Up from the 4:00 mark, we wanna see it. Post your video response here in the comments, and we’ll hook you up with a free GAIN Fitness T-shirt!

Rage Against the Machines

March 21, 2012
Fitness Tip, Mobile App, Nutrition, Product Feature, Training Strategies, Uncategorized
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The GAIN team just returned from the IHRSA Fitness Convention down in Los Angeles. We saw endless rows of shiny new machines, fitness equipment, and toys that filled up the showroom floor. As I strolled down the aisles, I realized this is one of the major problems with today’s fitness industry.
REASON #1 YOU’RE NOT HITTING YOUR FITNESS GOALS: 
Too many fitness enthusiasts, or gyms for that matter, focus on acquiring the latest and greatest fitness PRODUCTS, and not on implementing intelligently designed PLANS. If you can’t get results with a good old-fashioned dumbbell, that $5,000 hydraulic machine (fitness model included) probably won’t do the trick either.
BUYING A FITNESS PRODUCT DOESN’T AUTOMATICALLY = RESULTS:
As a trainer, I often get asked, “What do you think of X product?” My reply is always the same, “It depends on the program behind it.”Whether it’s a band, ball, or something more cutting edge, resistance is resistance. You can get terrible results or great results with any of them — well, maybe not all of them — if you shake your weight more than twice, you’re simply playing with it. But it’s the plan that truly makes the difference.
A GREAT RECIPE BRINGS ORDINARY INGREDIENTS TO LIFE:
A good coach ensures you get the most out of your fitness products, whatever they may be. He assesses a client’s current status and goals, analyzes the tools they have access to, and designs a plan accordingly.Not everyone can afford to pay the top dollar for high quality private training. That’s why the GAIN app was created — to give consumers the much needed guidance they are lacking. It’s a digital personal trainer that gives you a focused plan of action. Think about it this way: Filling your shopping cart with a bunch of groceries is meaningless. It’s only when you get an awesome recipe from a top chef, and then follow it to the best of your abilities, that you create some culinary magic.
THE PRODUCT AND GAIN PLAN ALLIANCE:
Don’t misunderstand us. There are some phenomenal fitness products out there. As a matter of fact, GAIN was working hard behind the scenes, forging partnerships to eventually introduce you to some of these cool, new tools.What did these companies see as the value of the GAIN app? You should have seen their faces light up when we demo’ed it for them. We can give you targeted programs that will help their products actually produce RESULTS. The scammers are one thing, but the smart equipment manufacturers know that even a great product without a targeted plan is useless.

So are you still just wandering through the gym doors, considering what to do? Or buying infomercial products that are collecting dust?  Download the app, and get a GAIN Plan going today. You’ll thank us later.

Hangover Cure: the “Morning After Workout”

March 12, 2012
Fitness Tip, Mobile App, Nutrition, Product Feature, Training Strategies
2 Comments

Hangovers kill fitness routines. We hear about it all the time. You set aside an hour Saturday morning to work out, but that dehydrated dance-throb in your head buries you back under the covers.

It’s time to take charge. After a long night of drinking, you need to fight back. Sure, water and ibuprofen will take care of the headache. But you need something for the body ache, too. Which is exactly why we developed “The Morning After Workout”–an up-and-atomizer that keeps you fresh after a long night of elixirs.

Since we’re down @ SXSW this week, we figured it’s the perfect opportunity to unveil it. So if you’re hungover, plan on being hungover, or simply don’t like mornings, check out our new workout here:

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